Rugby Union

Tonga'uiha brothers double up for Richmond semi-finals

There could be a double celebration in the Tonga’uiha family this weekend with London Welsh centre Hudson and his brother, Northampton Saints prop Soane, both just 80 minutes away from playing in
big finals.

At the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday, Soane will be out to end Harlequins’ Premiership title ambitions, while just 24 hours later Hudson will be in action at Old Deer Park as the Exiles take on the
Bedford Blues in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals.

Welsh will take a 13-3 first leg advantage in to their clash but Hudson will not be thinking about that on Saturday when he cheers on his “big” brother.

“I haven’t got much on after our team run on Saturday and the Stoop is not too far from where I live. He might come to our game on Sunday – we’ll see,” said Hudson, who is five stone lighter and
two inches shorter than Soane, left.

Welsh’s Tonga’uiha already has the try of the year award on his mantelpiece, but the importance of his two most recent efforts far outweighs his vote winning effort earlier in the season.

Hudson’s try in Welsh’s 13-3 win at Goldington Road separates the sides going into Sunday, along with eight points from the boot of Welsh full back Alex Davies.

It took his tally for the Championship season to 10, but he remained modest.

“Maybe this year I’ve just been in the right positions and right places at the right times,” added Hudson, right.

“It was a very important try [at Bedford] but it was a team effort. It was a fantastic win especially away at Bedford as it’s always tough.

Hudson was part of the Welsh side that reached the same stage last year, only to lose to Cornish Pirates 18-10, having led by seven at half-time.

“That wasn’t a good one. We started well but at the end it wasn’t great. But we’ve moved on since then,” he said. “It would be a massive achievement to reach the final this year, the same as it
would be for my team-mates, but our focus is Bedford this Sunday.”